Architectural exhibition from Venice sparks dialogue between Shanghai and Hong Kong

Opening the wooden drawers of the archival cabinets reveals old photographs of Choi Hung Estate's public platforms, sectional drawings of multi-functional market complexes, and designs of retractable handrails on Hong Kong streets. These artifacts exhibited at the Manifesto Gallery at Design Republic, situated in a century-old building in Shanghai's Jing'an district, sparked a dialogue between two distant cities, both confronting high-density urban development, brought together by an architectural exhibition from Venice.

The Projecting Future Heritage: A Hong Kong Archive exhibition, part of the HKIA Venice Biennale and Roving Architecture Exhibitions 2025/26, just finished its Shanghai stop and will return to Hong Kong for a response exhibition, with further details to be announced in due course.

Co-curator Fai Au explained that the two-year project united 32 research teams focused on Hong Kong's built environment, showcasing a comprehensive archive of 21 cabinets and 115 drawers on the global stage, highlighting overlooked everyday typologies such as public housing estates, multi-functional market complexes, co-op housing, and street infrastructures.

"These public structures, forged in contexts of extreme density and economic priorities, embody collective wisdom for addressing climate change, managing high-density living, and sustaining cultural life in public spaces. They offer insights into the shared future challenges of cities worldwide," Au said.

Due to venue constraints, the Shanghai leg featured selected physical exhibits from five core teams, accompanied by a two-hour film that unveils the complete archive. Beyond technical drawings, each drawer holds the lived experiences of generations of Hong Kong residents.